In his first foreign trip this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting Kyrgyzstan for a two-day official visit, where he will also attend the summit of the leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Putin held an official meeting today with Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov at the Ala-Archa state residence.
In their meeting, Putin bestowed the Order of Honor on Japarov, while he noted the great attention the Kyrgyz President has given to the development of bilateral relations between Moscow and Bishkek. “You can count on the equally constructive and interested stance, the same engaged approach by the Russian side,” Putin vowed. He also complimented Japarov’s efforts at “developing the Russian-Kyrgyz strategic partnership and alliance” and how he “consistently advocates the strengthening of the Russian-Kyrgyz ties.”
Following the talks, Putin stressed that on global issues “Russia and Kyrgyzstan are in many respects close or identical, as diplomats say.”
The leaders also signed several bilateral agreements.
Putin also visited Russia’s Kant air base in Kyrgyzstan to mark the 20th anniversary of its founding in 2003. Putin told reporters that the base “makes a substantial contribution to bolstering the republic’s defense capability, providing security and stability in the entire Central Asian region and fighting such acute challenges and threats as terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and organized crime.”
The base is part of Russia’s integrated military bases in Kyrgyzstan. Also in Kyrgyzstan is a naval anti-submarine armament testing station on Lake Issyk-Kul, a naval signal center in the Chuy Region and a radio seismic laboratory of the Russian Defense Ministry’s seismic service in the Jalal-Abad Region.
Putin and Japarov, along with other CIS leaders, will participate in a meeting of the Council of Heads of State to take place on Oct. 13 also in Bishkek. Putin also held talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of the CIS summit, which is significant given the current conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
